This week at pitching school we taught a mental game that just clicked.

It was built around an analogy. This week, every player drew four large bricks on a piece of paper. Inside each brick they wrote down a pitching mistake they had made. Some wrote “walked a batter.” Others wrote “hit a girl.” Some wrote “threw to the wrong base.” Once the bricks were filled in, we went around the room and asked a simple question: what did you learn from that mistake?

The lesson was this: mistakes are like bricks. If you carry them around, they are heavy. They weigh you down. They are useless. But if you learn from them, you can use them to build something great— a foundation, a wall, even a house. The same brick that drags you down can also build you up.

There are two very powerful schools of thought for how pitchers ought to attack the strike zone to be successful.

1. Attack the strike zone directly

2. Paint corners and live in the rivers

How can both be correct when they are in direct contradiction to one another? Which option ought pitchers pay heed?

To get to the bottom of this question, since I work with all of you at lessons instead of games, I went back to all of my notes from previous pitching conventions where I was able to listen to philosophies on pitch calling from the elite coaches in our game: Lonnie Alameda (Florida State), Larissa Anderson (Missouri), Beth Torina (LSU), Missy Lombardi (Oregon), Karen Weekly (Tennessee), and Stephanie VanBracklr (Alabama) just to name a few.

To me, the intermediate stage is defined by one specific transition: moving from knowing what to do to being able to do it consistently without thinking. Beginners are learning the language of pitching. Advanced pitchers don’t have to think about that language at all anymore. Intermediate pitchers are in the middle, translating what they know into what they can repeat.

At this stage, a pitcher might know how to get into reverse posture, but she can’t do it every pitch. She might leap off the mound sometimes but still step when she’s tired, distracted, or feeling pressure. Resistance shows up on one pitch and disappears on the next. Mechanics still require conscious effort, and pitchers often mentally check in with every part of their delivery instead of letting the sequence flow naturally. The goal here isn’t perfection—it’s consistency.

I was recently listening to one of my favorite podcasts, The Tim Ferriss Show, hosted by Tim Ferriss, a business author and entrepreneur known for interviewing top-performing people across sports, business, and life. His goal is to “deconstruct world-class performers,” and his recent interview with NFL-great, Steve Young was amazing. I’m not much of a football fan, and to be honest didn’t know who Steve Young was, but I surely do now! know why he was so successful after listening to this interview. I thought so much applied to softball and pitching that I wanted to pass this along. .

He talked about how there is a difference in athleticism. The players in the NFL are the top in the world. He also talked about how the error margins were so much smaller. , in college football, receivers are often open. In the NFL, no one is open. I’ve actually heard professional golfers say the same thing, or those that didn’t make it to the tour but were close. My old golf instructor who didn’t make the tour, but his friend did said, everything was the same, but the other guy could wouldn’t miss that one last short putt, I’d miss it one more time than him. Less room for error, less margins. 

At Practice Pro, we believe great pitchers are developed through a clear, patient, and proven process. Pitching isn’t something that happens overnight, and there isn’t one magical moment where everything suddenly “clicks.” You don’t come for one ten-week session and instantly start throwing perfect strikes or never miss high again. Instead, pitchers grow through consistent instruction, intentional practice, and learning to understand where they are in their own development. Our program is built around a long-term path that honors how young athletes learn, how the brain and body work together, and how confidence grows through repetition, success, and time.

Pitching can get expensive fast — between lessons and all the gear your instructor recommends (sorry about that), it can feel like you’re constantly swiping your card. But here’s the good news: you can get creative, save a ton of money, and still have all the tools you need to become a great pitcher.

Below is a list of the most common pitching tools we use at Practice Pro — and my favorite tips for how to make, find, or substitute them without breaking the bank.

Every fall, softball comes back to life after a late summer break — it’s that in-between season where players dust off their gloves, coaches shuffle lineups, and everyone gets a little extra time on the field before winter hits. But there’s one question I hear every year: Is fall ball actually making pitchers better… or worse?

People often look back fondly on the “glory days,” when kids played different sports each season instead of one sport year-round. Back then, there was no fall ball — the season didn’t start until January or later — and you could still be considered a committed team member while giving your full attention to each sport in its turn. But times have changed. Now, it can feel like if you skip fall ball, you’re seen as uncommitted or risk falling behind.

This fall at Practice Pro, we’re leveling up in every way — new programs, new ways to get your practice in, and new opportunities for players to learn, and compete together. Whether you’ve been with us for years or you’re thinking about joining, here’s a look at all the exciting things happening right now across our locations.

College Recruiting Cohort with Coach Erica Hanrahan

This week, our Coach Erica Hanrahan — a 13-year college coaching veteran who guided her teams to nine NCAA Division III postseason appearances as a head coach, kicked off our College Recruiting Cohort.

This program helps families navigate the recruiting process with confidence — from understanding timelines and communication rules to building player profiles and identifying the right-fit schools. It’s real-world insight from someone who’s coached at the highest levels of the game.